A WOMAN has expressed her anger at enforced changes to her rubbish collection that she claims were introduced without consulation and could lead to more rubbish being dumped across South Gloucestershire.

Lynn Clarke, of Longs View, Charfield, said she was alarmed to be told that in future only one of her two black wheelie bins would be emptied.

"When I rang the number to find out why I was told it is to encourage me to recycle more," she added. "Long before our roadside boxes were introduced, I have been keen to recycle bottles, clothing, shoes and newspapers."

South Gloucestershire Council has recently introduced a bi-weekly alternate collection of household rubbish and recyclables.

Mrs Clarke added: "I fully support the new green bin system for our cardboard and garden waste. But I am so very, very angry that the council has now taken the attitude that I can now only use one bin once every two weeks."

Mrs Clarke was told she is only allowed one bin due to the size of her family.

She questioned: "Does this mean when we have people to stay over in the holidays, weekends and on other occasions that I will be able to use two bins as there will be more than six people living in the house in that week?"

She is also concerned about the health implications.

"The smell in the summer will be terrible," she added. "As the meat in the bins starts to decay there will be an increase in the number of flies and insects. "Will this increase the risk of my children picking up more infections? I was also told today that we would have to wait another year before I can put vegetable peelings in our green bins. This will also add to the bad smell. Why could the council not be fully ready when they start these schemes up?"

Mrs Clarke believes people should have been consulted ahead of the introduction of a new scheme.

"My council tax has just been increased - - and is now £1,426 a year. Yet my refuse service is going to be cut by half. I do not like having an inferior service foisted on me by bureaucrats that think they know what is best. Will this useless scheme end in people dumping their rubbish over the countryside the way they do to their other household items that are seen by the roadside?"

Mrs Clarke said in her opinion the council should provide bins for plastic waste products, a collection of black bin rubbish once a week and bins instead of a small box for recycling of glass, paper and tins.

"I also think the people who pay for these services should be asked what they want from their council. I have discussed the issue with many of my neighbours, all of whom share my disappointment at the reduction in service."

Council spokeswoman Kirsty Steadman said the council contractor Sita has not reduced the waste service people receive.

"Residents still get a collection every week but they are being asked to sort out their rubbish into different containers." she added. "A survey conducted last year proved almost 50 percent of what people put in their black bins could be recycled."

She said the council had had to change its waste policy to comply with government legislation and avoid facing higher costs.

She added: "If families of less than six feel they are finding hard adjusting to the new service, a waste survey can be taken, free of charge, to make sure they are fully aware of everything that can be recycled."